Special
Exhibitions

Kel Nagle - The Gentleman of Golf.

Kel Nagle in 1954

Best remembered for his victory in the centenary Open Championship in
1960 at St Andrews, Kel Nagle racked up over 80 career titles.
Assistant golf professional at Pymble Golf Club prior to serving in
World War Two, Kel began his professional playing career in 1946. His
first notable success was the Australian PGA Championship in 1949.
From then until 1975 he won at least one tournament annually.

Kel holds a record 81 wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia,
including six Australian PGA Championships, an Australian
Open, seven New Zealand PGA Championships, and seven New
Zealand Opens. Among other wins were a Canadian Open, French
Open, Hong Kong Open and Swiss Open. He partnered his great
friend Peter Thomson to twice win the Canada Cup (now the
World Cup), and was runner-up after a playoff in the 1965 U.S.
Open.

Kel's achievements in golf were recognised with a Medal of
the Order of Australia. He has been inducted into the NSW Hall
of Champions, the World Golf Hall of Fame, and the Sport
Australia Hall of Fame. The Australian PGA Championship's best
performing rookie is awarded the Kel Nagle Plate. Kel's
greatest accolade is the universal respect accorded him as the
'Gentleman of Golf'.

The Australian Golf Heritage Society is proud to celebrate the life
and achievements of Kel Nagle with a display which includes many
unique objects, a display of Kel Nagle endorsed equipment, and - in a
first for the Museum - a dedicated video presentation.

Kel Nagle - National Library of Australia
Recording

Unfortunately, the Australian Golf Heritage Society was not fortunate
in obtaining an Oral History recording of Kel Nagle. However, the
National LIbrary of Australia did, and have allowed us to post a
direct link to the interview. Recorded on 27 August 1990, you can
listen to the 64 minute interview here.